Warper



WARPER Filed April 25, 1954 4 Sheetua l lVVENTOK Passe P Drake T ORNE July 22, 1958 R P, DRAKE 2,843,915

WARPER Filed April 23, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Russefl f? Drake BY QM ATTORNEYS R. P. DRAKE July 22, 1958 WARPER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3' Filed April 25, 1954 LEE-m iEEE Ll INVENTOR. ffl/ssel/ f? Drake ATTORNEYS R. P. DRAKE Jqly 22 1958 WARPER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 23, 1954 INVENTOR. Puss-e EDra ke ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice Patented July 22, 1958 WARPER Russell P. Drake, Caledonia, 11]., assignor to Barber- Colman Company, Rockford, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application April 23, 1954, Serial No. 425,270 13 Claims. (Cl. 28-32) This invention relates to a machine for winding warp threads on a beam and, more particularly, to a Warper in which the beam is turned to wind the threads by a driving drum frictionally engaging the periphery of the beam. In such a machine, the beam is supported by arms which swing away from the drum. as the yarn mass builds up on the beam and the beam is held against the dru-mby springs actingthrough links which are lengthened progressively during the winding operation to compensate for changes in springforce due to the increasing diameter of the yarn mass.

The general object of theinvention is to provide a new and improved warper of the above character in which the pressure between the beam and the driving drum may be controlled accurately regardless of the size of the beam and the type of yarn being wound.

A more detailed object is to arrange the arms supporting the beam in a novel manner so that the pressure between the beam and the drum due to the weight of the beam generally decreases as the beam is filled whereby the links always act in the same direction and serve to hold the beam against the drum.

Another object is to provide a mechanism for modifying. the action of the springs automatically in response to the build up of the yarn mass on the beam so that the algebraic sum of the pressures due to the spring force and the weight of the beam follow a predetermined .pressure curve.

A further object is to mount the mechanismfor guiding the threads in between the beam and the drum to move as the beam supporting arms move whereby the threadguiding mechanism always is accessible to theoperator.

The invention also resides in the novel means for dofling a filled beam and for loading an empty beam on the arms.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a warper embodying the novel features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 22 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3. is a plan view.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side view showing the position of the parts when the beam is empty.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but shows the position of the parts when the beam is full.

Fig; 6 is a fragmentary side view illustrating the manner in which a filled beam is defied.

As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in a warper in which a plurality of warp threads 10 are drawn from a creel (not shown) and are Wound on a horizontally disposed warp beam 11. The latter. is supported between and journaled on two parallel arms 12 (Figs. 1 and 2.) which are pivotally connected at one end to a base 13 to swing about a horizontal axis a paralleling the .axis of the beam. The beam is turned to draw the threads from the creel and wind them on the beam by a horizontal friction driving drum 14 journaled on the base in spaced bearings 15 and turned by a motor 16 through a belt 17, a clutch (not shown) and a speed reducer 18. The drum is disposed adjacent the arms 12 so that the periphery of the drum frictionally engages the mass 19 of threads on the beam and, due to this peripheral driving engagement, the drum turns the beam at a diminishing angular speed thus drawing thethreads from the creel at a constant rate. As the mass 19 of threads builds up on the beam, the arms 12 turn away from the drum, the arms turning from the empty position shown in Fig. 4 to the full position illustrated in Fig. 5.

To keep the threads separated as they are being wound and to direct them in between the drum 14 and the beam 11, the threads are drawn through a guiding mechanism 20 which herein includes a comb 21 mounted on transversely spaced supporting plates 22 and having horizontally spaced dents 23. As the threads are drawn from the creel, they are confined between vertically spaced horizontal bars 24 which are mounted on the support 22 in front of the comb 21 and guide the threads into the interdent spaces of the comb. After passing through the comb, the threads are bent around a horizontal thread guide or roll' 25 journaled on the supports 22 to enter between the beam and the driving-drum.

The beam 1 1 is held against the drum 14 in driving engagement with the latter by two elongated links 26 extending transversely of the beam and pivotally connected atone end to the arms 12 intermediate the ends thereof. The links pull the beam toward the drum and this force pulling the beam acts lengthwise of the links 26andis derived from a cluster of contractile springs 27, on one side of the warper, with the springs acting on the links through a force multiplying linkage 28. The latter includes a short arm 29 projecting upwardly from a stub shaft 30 journaled on a bracket 31 'on the base 13-, the free end of the arm being pivotally connected to the outer end of the link 26. A longer arm 32 rigid with the arm 29 projects horizontally therefrom and the outer end of this arm is pivotally connected by means of a link 33 to the outer end of a short horizontal arm 34. The arm 34 is fast on a shaft 35 which is journaled in spaced brackets 36 on the base and extends across the base to support the corresponding arm 34 which is on the other side of the warper and which also is connected to the adjacent link 26 by arms 32 and 29. Thus, the two links move together and this prevents cocking of the beam. A fourth arm 37, which is longer than the arm 34, is rigid with and projects downwardly from the shaft 35 and the lower end of this arm is coupled to a movable block 38 to which one end of each spring 27 of the cluster is anchored.

With the foregoing arrangement, the springs 27 tend to turn the arm 27 counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 1. Through the medium of the shaft 35, this turns; the arms 29, 32 and 34 in the same direction and places the links 26 under tension, the force of thesprings being multiplied due to the different lengths of these arms. Thus the springs, acting through the links 26 produce a pressure between the beam 11 and the driving drum.

14 and this pressure is modified by the effect of the gross Weight of the beam.

Preferably, the links 26 are extensible and are elongated as the yarn mass 19 builds up on the beam 11 so that the blocks 38 remain substantially stationary during the winding operation and do not, therefore, cause the springs 27 to be stretched and produce a greater force.

operable to extend the linksfin response to the increasing diameter of the yarn mass. Herein, the foregoing is achieved by making each link 26 from a screw 39 (Fig. 2). threaded into a nut 40 which is bolted onto the end of a tube 41, the screw, the nut and the tube together forming the link. The outer end of the screw is reduced and is journaled in a block 42 which is pivotally mounted on the arm 29 and forms the pivotal connection between the arm and the link 26.

In the present instance, the means for extending the links 26 comprises a reversible motor 43 turning the screws 39 through a clutch 44 which is engaged and disengaged in response to the build up of the yarn mass 19. The motor is operated continuously in the direction to extend the links 26 while the clutch 44 normally is disengaged but is engaged upon an increase in tension in the links due to the increasing diameter of the yarn mass so that the links are elongated intermittently in small increments. The clutch may, as illustrated in the drawings, be of the electromagnetic type and comprise a flat armature ring 45 opposing the face of an annular core 46 of U-shaped radial cross section and drawn into frictional gripping engagement with the core upon energization of a coil 47 which is disposed within the core and is connected to a current source through rotating collector rings 48 and 61 and cooperating stationary brushes 49 and 62.

The armature 45 is slidably attached to a drive pulley 52 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 50 and is driven by the motor 43 through belts 52. The shaft 50 is journaled in brackets 51 on the base 13 and splined to this shaft is a collector ring wheel 52 to which the core 46 of the clutch 44 is attached. The shaft 50 is coupled to the screws 39 by chains 54 which pass around sprocket wheels 55 secured to the shaft 50 and around sprocket wheels 56 rigid with the screws 39. Thus, when the coil 47 is energized, the motor 43 turns the screws through the belt 52, the drive pulley 52 the clutch 44, the wheel 52 and the chains 54 and extends the links 26. More accurate control of the screws may be obtained by using a brake 57 which stops the shaft 50 upon disengagement of the clutch 44 and releases the shaft when the clutch is engaged. The brake may also be of the electromagnetic type and, like the clutch, comprises an armature ring 58, an annular U-shaped core 59 and a coil 60 energized through a suitable circuit (not shown). The armature 58 is attached to the wheel 52 while the core 59 is stationarily secured to one of the brackets 51 so that, when the coil 60 is energized, the armature is drawn into frictional gripping engagement with the core and, together with the wheel 52 is held against turning.

To engage the clutch 44 and disengage the brake 57 upon an increase in tension in the links 26 due to the build up of the yarn mass 19, the coils 47 and 60 are energized and deenergized respectively by a switch 63 disposed adjacent one of the arms 32 where the actuator 64 of the switch is in position to be engaged by a bar 65 fast on the arm. As the yarn mass increases in diameter, the links 26 are pulled to the right as viewed in Fig. 1 and this turns the arms 29, 32, 34 and 37 clockwise stretching the springs 27 and increasing the tension on the links. Such swinging of the arms causes the bar 65 to engage the actuator 64 and close the switch 63 which disengages the brake 57 and engages the clutch 44. As a result, the screws 39 are turned to lengthen the links 26 until the arms 29, 32, 34 and 37 are turned back to their original positions in which the switch is open. This disengages the clutch and engages the brake stopping the screws. The operation of the pressure-controlling mechanism is repeated intermittently as the yarn mass 19 builds up.

" Swinging of the arms 29, 32, 34 and 37 of the pressurecontrolling mechanism may be dampened by a dashpot 66 (Figs. 3 and 5). The latter comprises an oil-filled cylinder 67 secured to the base 13 and a piston 68 sliding in the cylinder. The rod 69 of the piston is pivotally connected at its outer end to the free end of an arm 70 which is fast on the shaft 35 so that the dashpot operates on the arms 29, 32, 34 and 37 through the shaft 35.

The present invention contemplates supporting the arms 12 in a novel manner so that the links 26 act continuously in the same direction during swinging of the arms from the empty to the full position and this regardless of the size and weight of the yarn and the amount of yarn wound on the beam 11. In other words, the arrange ment of the arms is such that the part of the pressure between the beam and the driving drum 14 due to the weight of the beam is less than the desired total pressure in any position of .the arms and thus the links always act to move the beam toward the drum and to increase the pressure between the two. To this end, the arms are disposd in a generally upright position to swing from the empty position on one side of the vertical to the full position on the other side.

As shown in Fig. 4, the arms 12 are inclined toward the drum 14 when the beam 11 is empty and, therefore, a component F of the weight W of the beam acts against the drum and is additive to the effect of the springs 27. As the threads 10 are wound on the beam, the

actual weight of the latter increases but the effective weight or force F decreases since the arms are approaching the vertical and becomes zero when the arms reach the vertical position. As the yarn mass continues to build up, the arms swing to the other side of the vertical and, as a result, the weight of the beam tends to swing the beam away from the drum and reduces the pressure between the two. Thus, the pressure between the beam and the drum due to the weight of the beam generally decreases progressively from a value which is less than thedesired total pressure. Accordingly, the links 26 always act in tension to pull the beam toward the drum and there is, therefore, no loss of control such as would occur if the links acted first in tension and then in compression.

The present invention also contemplates the provision 3 of a novel mechanism 71 for modifying the effect of the springs 27 so that the algebraic sum of the spring force and the weight of the beam 11, that is, the pressure between the beam and the drum 14, will follow a predetermined pressure curve. In other words, this mechanism may, if desired, hold the pressure between the drum and the beam constant throughout the entire winding operation, it may cause the pressure to change progressively, or it may produce a curve in which the pres-- sure is constant during part of the operation and changing during the remainder of the time. The mechanism 71 operates in response to the build up of the yarn mass 19 and hence to the change in the effective weight of the beam and herein comprises a cam 72 turning with the arms 12 and operable when turned to shift a movable block 73 to which the springs 27 are anchored.

In the present instance, the cam 72 is a flat segment secured by screws to the lower end of a link 74 which is pivotally connected at its lower end to the base 13 and which, as will be described later, swings with the arms 12. A follower 75 riding on the cam is carried extended orcontracted to modify the spring action and,

DIQd Qe thedesired pressure between the beam 11 and h dr m. 14 and th s modifyi fio s achieved au ma o ly upon s in i g of he arms. The s e easily removed and. may be replaced by other cams in cases Where a difieren pressure curve is desired or to mm at beam of d fl ren sizes and ous typ of threads. The cam may actuate switches 82 and 83 which deenergize the motor 43 to limit the swinging of the arms 12.

Advantage is taken of the upright mounting of the arms 12 to facilitate doifing of a filled beam 11 and loading of an empty beam. This is achieved by supporting the beam in upwardly opening recesses 84 in the upper ends of, the arms so that the beam may be dotted by turning the arms beyond the full position to rest the beam on a support such as the floor 85 (Fig. 6) and to lower the arms out of engagement with the beam permitting the latter to be moved away from the Warper. In the present instance, each end of a shaft 86 is rigid with and extends outwardly from the ends of the beam and projects through an annular bearing 87. The outer spherically contoured race rings of the bearings are received in the spherical peripheries of the recesses 84 and are held against axial shifting by shoulders 88 (Fig. 3) which are formed on the arms 12 opposite the outer ends of the bearings.

. Through, a suitable control circuit well known in the art, a manually operable push button switch 89 energizes the motor 43 and overrides the control of the switch 63 to engage the clutch 44 and disengage the brake 57. This turns the screws 39 to lengthen the links 26 until the beam is lowered onto the floor 85 as shown in full in Fig. 6. Continued turning of the screws lowers the arms 12 out from under the bearings 87 (shown in broken lines) thus releasing the beam from the arms. An empty beam then may be rolled into position with the hearings on this beam above the recesses 84 and a second push button switch 90 is depressed. L ke the switch 89, the switch 90 causes the clutch to be engaged and the brake to be disengaged but energizes the motor 43 in the opposite, direction so that the screws 39 turn to shorten the links 26. This raises the arms so that the bearings 87 are picked up in the recesses .84 and the beam is carried to the winding position.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the thread guiding mechanism 20 is mounted in a novel mannerso that the comb 21 is accessible to the operator in all positions of the arms 12. To this end, the thread guiding mechanism is mounted to move back and forth with the beam and, in thisinstance, this is achieved by mounting the supporting plates 22 above the beam on the upper ends of upwardly projecting extensions 91 of the arms for bodily movement with the beam. The horizontal position of the thread guiding mechanism is maintained by pivotally connecting the plates 22 to the extensions 91 and by forming the latter as part of a parallelogram linkage which also includes the elongated links 74 paralleling the extension and pivotally connected at opposite ends to the plates and the base 13. With this arrangement, the thread guiding mechanism swings with the beam so that it is always within the reach of an operator standing behind the beam and, at the same tim the comb 21, the guide bars 24 and the roller 25 remain properly positioned relative to the threads 10.

It be observed that a warper constructed in accordimce with the invention-provides accurate control of the pressure between the beam '11 and the driving drum 14 regardless of the size of the beam and the type of threads being wound. This control is obtained by arranging the beam supporting arms 12 to be generally upright so that under all conditions the links 26 act to hold the beam against the drum. Furthermore, the

mechanism 71 permits the pressure between the beam,

and the to follow any desired curve. By arranghr d m y be d and p a e be w n t pr per dents 23 of he comb. h use o prig a ms 1 getherwi h h nwa d yopen ns oo sso r s ppo the,

bear n 87 perm s a l eam o e o te andan empty beam o be loaded s mp y by u n n e ms ey n the full position.

I c a m s y n nt n:

A rne pri i a bas a f c o riv rotatably mounted on said base to turn about a horizontal axis, a generally upright arm adapted to sup.-

Por a warn be m n pe iphe a n m n w ths isi.

drum "and pivotally connected to said base to swing way m a d n s ya n is ou d o he ea f om an empty position on one side of the vertical to a full position on the other side of the vertical whereby the pressure between the beam and the dram due to the, weight f th beam ene a ly e re s s r ssi a y s the arm w n owa d t ull P i an el ngat link member extensible longitudinally and extending generally transversely of said arm, means pivotally connectns s i lin a on end o a d a m nd at h e end to said base to permit the, link to move upon swing,- ing of the arm, a spring connected to said member to,

exert a force acting longitudinally of the member and urging said arm toward said drum to hold the beam agai st he d um, nd eans op in response o movement of said link to extend the =link and compensate for changes in the spring force due to such movement.

2,. A warper comprising a base, a friction driving drum rotatably mounted on said base to turn about a.

horizontal axis, a generally upright arm adapted to sup: port a warp beam in peripheral engagement. with said drum and pivotally connected to said base to swing away from said drum as yarn is wound on the beam from an empty positionon one side of the vertical to a full posi-I the other end of said member to said base and permitting the member to move with said arm, a spring connected to.

said member to exert a force acting longitudinally of the member and urging said arm toward said drum to hold the beam against the drum, and mechanism responsive'to movement of said member and operable to extend the member and compensate for the change in spring force au d y u mo ment- 3. A warper. comprising a friction driving drum mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, a generally upright arm adapted to support a warp beam in peripheral engagement with said drum and pivotally mounted adjacent its lower end to swing about a horizontal axis away from the drum as warp threads are wound on the beam, an extensible link connected at one end to said arm, first and second members spaced apart and movable toward and away from each other, a spring acting between said members, means connecting said first member to said link to transmit the force of said spring longitudinally of the link and urge said beam against said drum, mechanism responsive to swinging of said arm to extend said :link and compensate for the change in spring cause the pressure between the beam and the drum to.

follow a predetermined pressure curve.

A w so havin in comb nat a rio on .d -iving drum mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, an arm adapted to support a war-p beam in peripheral engagement with said drum and mounted to turn abouta horizontal axis away from the drum as warp threads are wound on said beam, an extensible link connected at one end to said arm, a spring acting on the opposite end of said link and operable to exert a force acting lengthwise of the link and urging said beam against said drum whereby the pressure between the beam and the drum is dependent upon the force of the spring and the weight of the beam, mechanism operable to extend said link upon swinging of said arm to compensate for the change in spring force due to such swinging, a cam mounted to move in synchronism with said arm and thereby respond to the changing position of the arm, and a follower engaging said cam and connected to said spring to modify the force of the spring in response to the changing contour of the cam, said cam being shaped to cause the pressure between said beam and said drum to follow a predetermined curve upon swinging of said arm.

5. A warper having, in combination, a friction driving drum mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, an arm adapted to support a warp beam in peripheral engagement with said drum and mounted to turn about a horizontal axis away from the drum as warp threads are wound on said beam, an extensible link connected at one end to said arm, a spring acting on the opposite end of said link and operable to exert a force acting lengthwise of the link and urging said beam against said drum whereby the pressure between the beam and the drum is dependent upon the force of the spring and the weight of the beam, mechanism operable to extend said link upon swinging of said arm to compensate for the change in spring force due to such swinging, and a cam responsive to the changing effective weight of said beam and operable to modify the force of said spring and cause the pressure between the beam and the drum to follow a predetermined curve upon swinging of said arm.

6. A warper comprising, a friction driving drum mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, a generally upright arm adapted to support a warp beam in peripheral engagement with said drum and pivotally supported at its lower end to swing about a horizontal axis away from said drum as warp threads are wound on said beam, a spring, means connecting one end of said spring to said arm to urge said beam against said drum whereby the pressure between the beam and the drum is dependent upon the force of the spring and the weight of the beam, a cam movable in response to the changing position of said arm, and a follower engaging said cam and connected to said spring to modify the force of the spring in accordance with the contour of said cam, said cam being shaped to cause the pressure between said beam and said drum to follow a predetermined pressure curve.

7. A warper comprising a friction driving drum mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, an arm for supporting a warp beam in peripheral engagement with said drum and with the axis of the beam disposed horizontally, a spring connected at one end to said arm and urging said beam into engagement with said drum whereby the pressure between the beam and the drum is proportional to the sum of the spring force and the weight of the beam, a movable member connected to the other end of said spring, a cam mounted to move in synchronism with said arm and thereby respond to the changing position of the arm, and a follower engaging said cam and connecting said member and the cam to move the member and thereby modify the force of said spring in response to the changing contour of the cam.

8. A warper comprising a friction driving drum mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, an arm for supporting a warp beam in peripheral engagement with said drum and with the axis of the beam disposed horizontally, a spring connected at one end to said arm and urging said beam into engagement with said drum whereby the pressure between the beam and the drum is proportional to the sum of the spring force and the weight of the beam, a movable member connected to the other end of said spring, and a cam responsive to the changing effective weight of said beam and connected to said member to move the same and thereby modify the force of said spring, said cam being shaped to cause the pressure between the beam and the drum to follow a predetermined curve upon swinging of said arm.

9. A warper comprising a friction driving drum mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, an arm for supporting a warp beam in peripheral engagement with said drum and with the axis of the beam disposed horizontally, a spring connected at one end to said arm and urging said beam into engagement with said drum whereby the pressure between the beam and the drum is proportional to the sum of the spring force and the weight of the beam, a movable member connected to the other end of said spring, and means selectively operable in response to the changing effective weight of said beam to move said member thereby to modify the force of said spring and cause the pressure between the beam and the drum to follow a predetermined curve upon swinging of said arm.

10. A warper having, in combination, a friction driving drum, a generally upright arm having means to support a warp beam intermediate the ends of the arm and in peripheral engagement with said drum, a base, means pivotally connecting the lower end of said arm to said base and supporting said arm for swinging about a horizontal axis and away from said drum as warp thread-s are Wound on said beam, mechanism yieldably operable to urge said arm toward said drum and hold the beam in driving engagement with the drum, a supporting member disposed adjacent the upper end of said arm pivotally connected thereto to move with said beam, thread guiding means carried by said member and operable to guide the warp threads individually down in between said beam and said drum, and a link pivotally connected at one end to said base and at the other end to said member to form with the arm a parallelogram linkage for maintaining the angular position of the member upon swinging of the arm.

11. A warper having, in combination, a friction driving drum, a generally upright arm having means to support a warp beam intermediate the ends of the arm and in peripheral engagement with said drum, means pivotally supporting said arm at the lower end thereof to turn about a horizontal axis and swing away from said drum as warp threads are wound on said beam, mechanism yieldably operable to urge said arm toward said drum and hold the beam in driving engagement with the drum, and a thread guiding member mounted on the upper end of said arm to move with said beam and operable to guide the warp threads individually down in between said beam and said drum.

12. A warper having, in combination, a base, a gen-' erally upright arm adapted to support a warp beam and pivotally connected at its lower end to said base to swing about a horizontal axis from one side of the vertical to the other as warp threads are wound on the beam, a friction driving drum engaging the periphery of the beam to turn the latter and thereby wind the threads on the beam, yieldable means urging said arm toward said drum to hold the beam in driving engagement with the drum, a thread guiding member directing the warp threads in between said beam and said drum and disposed adjacent the upper side of the beam, and means supporting said member to move with the beam upon swinging of said arm.

13. A warper comprising a base, a generally upright arm pivotally connected at its lower end to swing about a horizontal axis away from a predetermined position on one side of the vertical toward and to the other side of the vertical, said arm having an upwardly opening recess for receiving and supporting the shaft of a warp beam, a friction driving drum engaging the periphery of said beam, an extensible link connected at one end to said arm, a spring acting on said link to exert a force holding said beam against said drum, and mechanism actuated in response to swinging of said arm to elongate said link as the arm turns away from said position and operable selectively to elongate said arm further to carry said beam out of engagement with said drum thereby to lower the beam onto a support and then lower the arm out from under said shaft whereby the beam is released from the arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Reiners et a1. Mar. 10, Eitzen May 9, Kahlisch Dec. 31, Peterson Feb. 13, Wiggermann Aug. 14, Watson June 22,

FOREIGN PATENTS Italy July 9, 

